Now it appears that Microsoft has its own executive shakeup in the works. Steve Sinofsky, President of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live division, left the company today. The move comes somewhat as a shock considering that Windows 8 just launched last month.

“It is impossible to count the blessings I have received over my years at Microsoft. I am humbled by the professionalism and generosity of everyone I have had the good fortune to work with at this awesome company,” said Sinofsky of his departure in an email to Microsoft employees.

I. First Forstall, Now Sinofsky

While the timing of Sinofsky's departure is a bit startling, the writing has been on the wall for some time with regards to his chemistry with other Microsoft employees. Sinofsky's inability to be a team player is cited as a major reason for his departure, and is reminiscent of Forstall's dismissal.

AllThingsD reported this afternoon that there was growing tension between Sinofsky and other top Microsoft executives. This news comes weeks after CNET ran a piece detailing Sinofsky's rise to power at Microsoft, and his rather combative style of leadership. CNET's Jay Greene had this to say about how former and current Microsoft execs viewed Sinofsky:

Most requested anonymity because they feared potential repercussions. They paint a picture of an executive who is incredibly smart and passionately driven to ship quality software on time. But some also say Sinofsky can create a toxic work environment that has chased talented employees away from a maturing company that's in desperate need of innovative thinking.

Sinofsky's leadership style and compartmentalization of tasks and "reporting lines" within the Windows division lead his approach to be labeled as "Soviet Central-Planning." In fact, the toxicity within Microsoft was humorously detailed in an organizational chart comic by Manu Cornet:

[Image Source: Manu Cornet]

II. Steve Ballmer heaps praise on Sinofsky, points to new leadership

Microsoft CEO Ballmer sent a memo to his staff regarding the departure, and praised Sinofsky's 20+ years of service:

As we enter this new era, and with the successful launch of Windows 8 and Surface behind us, Steven Sinofsky has decided to leave the company. Steven joined Microsoft in 1989 as a software development engineer and has contributed to the company in many ways from his work as a technical advisor to Bill Gates, to leading the evolution of the Microsoft Office business, to his direction and successful leadership of Windows and Windows Live as well as Surface. I am grateful for the work that Steven has delivered in his time at our company. [Full memo here]

Sinofsky will be replaced by Julie Larson-Green. Larson-Green has been with Microsoft since 1993 and has had a hand in program management, and UI design/research for Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Julie Larson-Green [Image Source: Microsoft]

“Leading Windows engineering is an incredible challenge and opportunity, and as I looked at the technical and business skills required to continue our Windows trajectory — great communication skills, a proven ability to work across product groups, strong design, deep technical expertise, and a history of anticipating and meeting customer needs — it was clear to me that Julie is the best possible person for this job, and I’m excited to have her in this role,” said Ballmer of Larson-Green.

You're missing the point. Touch is "popular" so MS is trying to take advantage of it. If anything, they need to make an OS that is built for touch AND mouse/keyboard and give you the option to boot into either/or/both (when I say built for touch and mouse/keyboard, I mean to the point where noone complains about it). We should all have touch screens where we have apps/games that are built for both touch and mouse/keyboard so that IF you feel like touching your screen, you can. If you feel like using the mouse/keyboard, you can. Hell, if I want to wave my hand or move my eyeballs in a certain way and make the computer do what I want, it should do it. This is the future and the future should be "now". Just be glad that companies like MS, Apple, Google (and Linux) are striving to make their OS's as good as they are. It's only getting better and thanks to competition. MS may not hit a homerun with Windows 8 but I think they are definitely moving in the right direction!

It doesn't appear that I missed the point that touch is popular to me. I only said it was important not to abandon the traditional UI because many people still prefer it for keyboard and mouse which I am assuming you disagree with?

>Hell, if I want to wave my hand or move my eyeballs in a certain way and make the computer do what I want, it should do it.

Should they neglect the hardware people are using today to support this utopian hand waving eye ball reading future? My opinion is no but if you disagree you are welcome to throw away your mouse and keyboard and type your response to me with your eyeballs. Maybe Microsoft just created an opening for a man of your talents. You should eyeball a resume over to them right away.

Touch isn't just "popular" it's the new standard and won't go away. Microsoft doesn't want to create different interfaces for each form factor. Their vision was of a consistent interface across multiple devices which means that users won't have to relearn Windows as they go between devices.

This is a good long-term strategy as users will go with what they're familiar with when it comes to new devices. I see the Desktop as an olive branch from MS. It will eventually go the way of the DOS prompt.

These people whining about the Desktop remind me so much of the DOS geeks.

I actually got my hands on a Windows 8 machine over the weekend while out shopping.. I've had 8 in a VM for quite a while now but what really got me interested is when you have not only the traditional keyboard and mouse (which work just fine) but also a touch monitor as some of the machines on display had. forget tradition, what it does is changes the dynamics of how a computer is used, PC or otherwise. Did not though get to play with a Surface since they did not have any available.

quote: Microsoft doesn't want to create different interfaces for each form factor. Their vision was of a consistent interface across multiple devices which means that users won't have to relearn Windows as they go between devices.

Thats a great idea but anyone with 2 neurons to rub together knows that every form factor and interface has been designed differently because the devices are used in different ways. There is a reason why a bicycle, a bulldozer, and a 747 all have different interfaces and unifying them is a bad idea.